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#2564 of 3,778 schools in FL

Chester Shell Elementary School

Elementary School · Alachua · Hawthorne, FL

An Alachua elementary school where students score 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.

21633 SE 65TH AVE, Hawthorne, FL 32640

  • Math 32% vs FL 58% (2024)
  • Reading 29% vs FL 54% (2024)
  • 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.9Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.94 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics4.0Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency32% (2024 FAST)
Reading/ELA Proficiency29% (2024 FAST)
Math vs. State Avg-28.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-26.2 pts
Overall Proficiency31% (2024 FAST, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)37% (model expectation from 2024 FAST)
vs. Expected-6.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile21th
Resources & Environment5.8Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.9:1
District spending per student$11,075
Chronic Absenteeism63.5%

Students at Chester Shell Elementary School score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 FAST proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. FL average.

Math Proficiency32%(2024 FAST)
School
State
58%(2024 FAST)
ELA Proficiency29%(2024 FAST)
School
State
54%(2024 FAST)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 27 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 31% recently.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
62%
ELA
52%
2010
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2011
Math
27%
ELA
37%
2012
Math
32%
ELA
42%
2013
Math
47%
ELA
37%
2014
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2015
Math
47%
ELA
42%
2016
Math
72%
ELA
52%
2017
Math
57%
ELA
47%
2018
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2019
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
27%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
27%
2022
Math
34%
ELA
27%
2024
Math
32%
ELA
29%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 38% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 34 test records from FL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

84.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Chester Shell Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 46Car-Dependent
  • Bike 63Bikeable
  • County Safety: Average506/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$58,727

Median home value

$153,600

Median rent

$959/mo

College educated

14.1%

Homeownership

84.3%

Poverty rate

16.6%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 32640; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Ochwilla Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified3.6PK–64.4 mi399Compare →
Alachua Learning Academy ElementaryCharter · enrollment unverified9.3K–5Not available102Compare →
Boulware Springs CharterCharter · enrollment unverified9.7K–5Not available158Compare →
Caring & Sharing Learning SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified8.2PK–6Not available320Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Alachua

Schools in district
68
Rank in district
#36 of 54
District spending per student
$11,075NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
19.4%Census SAIPE · 2024

Chester Shell Elementary School is listed in ALACHUA; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Chester Shell Elementary School

Chester Shell Elementary School is a public elementary school in Hawthorne, FL, part of Alachua, serving approximately 323 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10 and ranks #2,564 of 3,778 schools in FL. State assessment records show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Chester Shell Elementary School

What grades does Chester Shell Elementary School serve?

Chester Shell Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Chester Shell Elementary School?

Chester Shell Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 323 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Chester Shell Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Chester Shell Elementary School is 12.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Chester Shell Elementary School rank in FL?

Chester Shell Elementary School ranks #2,564 of 3,778 schools in FL.

What is Chester Shell Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Chester Shell Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Chester Shell Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Chester Shell Elementary School has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Chester Shell Elementary School a charter school?

No, Chester Shell Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Chester Shell Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Chester Shell Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Chester Shell Elementary School?

84.5% of students at Chester Shell Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
323
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
25
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Alachua County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
63.5%
Area population (ZIP 32640)
10,780
Area average commute
34.2 min
Area median age
46.2
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 FAST · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 FAST. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 FAST · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 FAST. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 32640; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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